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Anatoly Samokhvalov's interview with Maria Sotskova `I would not give up skating for love' for rsport.ru
We met up with the Russian nationals bornze medallist in a practice, which the RFSF president Aleksandr Kogan and a technical specialist Aleksandr Kuznetskov visited.
AS: What did the technical specialist advice, Maria?
MS: To work on the spins, add some steps to the sequence, but all and all they liked it and I don't need to change anything.
AS: Was it a surprise visit? You even made a mistake in the camel spin entry.
MS: My head was spinning and I didn't understand where was I after the medical check up. Spinning was tough.
AS: What are the programmes?
MS: The SP is a waltz from the `Swan Lake', the LP is the `Moonlight' by Debussy.
AS: Was the `Moonlight' your choice?
MS: No, the coaches - Peter Tchernyshev, Elena Buyanova and Irina Tagaeva chose it. I was very much against.
AS: Really?
MS: It was worrying - I couldn't find myself in that music. The first impression was: oh, a slow music again, the same character... I wanted something new, more active, fast. But we decided the Olympic season was not the best to take risks and take something that indeed suits me. The certainty the programme would work.
AS: It does work, but is it a bit too empty, with no accents like you had in the last year's Schnitke?
MS: Peter created a beautiful choreography to the `Moonlight'. The whole package with a gorgeous dress. Should I skate it clean in the competition it should be good. Later when I found myself in that programme rebelling was silly. I dwelled in the process and I liked it. I fell in love with the programme and I love skating it.
AS: Yet there are no tears and emotions in that programme?
MS: No. We decided to put the stress on the beauty of the executed elements. The season is going to be tough as it is, so we didn't complicate the choreography too much. Everyone will be focusing on the elements now.
AS: Previous season was your first senior and with all the flow of your Schnitke music programmes you were fighting for every element...
MS: It was a new character and it was hard to get into. The last year's LP was harder than the `Moonlight'. But I became one with Debussy's music, I think it suits me really well.
AS: Slow with the flowing lines...
MS: Yes. It's easy for me - that's who I am.
AS: What are the new elements?
MS: I added a tano in the jumps, the rest remained the same. The mediocre list of elements like everyone does. No 3A nor 4S.
AS: You're kidding
MS: Why? Unfortunately I will not do a 4S this season.
AS: Unfortunately?
MS: I tried it at the end of the season, think it was possible to make it work.
AS: Was it fully rotated?
MS: No. It was badly underotated. I only attempted in order to understand whether I can do it. The conclusion is nothing is impossible with the right amount of work.
AS: I.e. you could had learned the 4S for this season?
MS: For now I only tried it for myself. A couple of times. I didn't work on it till went numb. This season we decided no to integrate it. We preferred to polish the elements I already have and leave the quad for later.
AS: I wasn't even going to ask about the quads.
MS: Of course, it's not the time yet.
AS: What is so special about the Salchow?
MS: You have to catch the entry. There is nothing comlicated in the push, but the entry... But think this season no one will take a risk, because the clean programmes will be scored higher than those with a 3A and a fall. Though the Japanese female skaters do the 3A even in the show. Wakaba Higuchi, Yuna Shiraiwa - they fall, but rotate it. When you are sure you can skate the whole programme with those jumps - why not? Like Liza Tuktamysheva did - she could land the 3A and she could fall, but she had enough power to do the rest of the elements as well.
AS: Tuktamysheva's coach Alexey Mishin says she `lost' the 3A.
MS: Axel is such a jump - now it's here, now it's gone.
AS: Why?
MS: A mystery. But many male skaters struggle with the 3A. I can't even imagine what would it look like if I attempted. Well, I never did.
AS: How did you feel about the waltz from the `Swan Lake'?
MS: I loved it at instance! Peter put the music on and I didn't hesitate for a moment. The process was quite fast. I wanted to skate for a `Swan lake' for a while. Not necessarily the waltz, but the Swan lake.... but there is nothing about the swan in my programme. Nothing. It's just a waltz. I strike the poze, someone asks me for a dance, I turn...and bow at the end.
AS: A `Swan lake' with no swan...
MS: It will be allright.
AS: How was your trip to Japan?
MS: I love the country, the Japanese fans. I had to take an additional luggage since there were so many toys. One of the girls is making her own teddy bears and she asked what would be more convenient: to bring them or post them. The latter was better. I came back to Moscow and a package came a week later.
AS: Were the Japanese fans fainting?
MS: Because of me? No. However, when Nathan Chen was out the girls were screaming like crazy `Nathan!!! Marry me!!!!!!'. The emotions they had for me were calmer and it was so nice. The applaud, the banners - it's something that you can't stay indifferent to.
AS: The `Kalinka' programme you skated there - who came up with it?
MS: Peter. When we were thinking of the music for the LP he said `Let's do a Russian folk!'. But I thought the Russian folk in my interpretation would be way too heavy for everyone. We sat around and thought and decided it was too much. So we decided to make it an exhibition. Think it worked out quite nicely.
AS: Throughout the whole last season you were competing with Polina Tsurskaya, yet this summer you went together for a vacation.
MS: It was spontaneous. We've been friends for a while. We spent 10 days locked in together in the same room in the junior Olympic festival. It befriended us. I pushed Polina to come to the vacation with us. The month before leaving I realized I can't go alone - it will be so boring and sad. Polina was fast to agree, though there were some problems as she is underage and we were going with my mom. But we had a great time, didn't think of figure skating and gained positive energy for the whole season.
AS: How is it being friends when she is first and you are second, and then a year later you are so successful on the seniors and she is still a junior?
MS: When she first started competing the juniors I didn't know her. I didn't care who I was competing with. And then we became friends. Of course there are no friends on the ice - we are rivals there. When she was winning I was upset with myself. But I was happy for her - she is a hard worker and she deserved it. We don't mix the sports and life.
AS: Will she come back to the previous level?
MS: I can't say anything now, but Polina is so talented. I hope she'll make it.
AS: You are entering your 2nd senior season. Is it more pressing or you gained the experience?
MS: Experience. Last season taught me a lot and proved a lot. This season I was preparing calmer and was not pressed mentally so much. I had enough of that situation after the Russian nationals and the Euros when it was not clear whether I'd go to the Worlds or not. That limbo was terrible. I was so nervous. It was hard mentally to gather later. When I did come to Finland in the end I was stressing so badly about `the first senior worlds'. That moment I still remembered am nothing but a yesterday junior skater. In the end I couldn't cope completely, but later it was a relief and a lesson learned: I should be calmer. Since then I convince myself: if I can do it in the practice - I can do it in a competition. Even better.
Of course you can't turn off the brains, but when you think too much you put yourself in a wrong corner. There is no point doing it and that understanding is my gained experience.
AS: Back in Finland you admitted in the Russian nationals you were going to a combat.
MS: Right.
AS: Will you be different this year, or a `combat' was the right set of mind for the Nationals?
MS: It was the right set of mind that gave the result. In the SP I was nervous but I held it cool. In the LP I suddenly realized what kind of a fight it is. You see, I was so ready both mentally and physically. But I skated through my teeth because I couldn't concentrate. There are so many skaters and just 3 spots. What will be the next Nationals is too early to tell. I still have several competitions prior to that. At any rate - I'll accumulate the positive thoughts, because there should be no negativity in my head. Everything should be great, then I just have to go out there and do my best. We are trying to create a beautiful art, but without a strong skeleton it'll fall apart.
AS: Does Elena Buyanova has enough time between you and Elena Radionova?
MS: Of course. We are not skating at the same time - I practice after Lena. Elena Buyanova did everything right, she has enough time for us both.
AS: She doesnt' take a risk of putting 2 rivals on the same ice?
MS: That's not the reason we are not skating at the same time. What do you expect us to do? Kill each other? The coach needs time to switch from one skater to the other, from one programme ot the other. After all she is human and only has 2 eyes.
AS: What is more convenient for you in a practice - competing with Radionova or be on the different corners?
MS: We meet on the ice anyway and see what the other is doing. But we are not thinking of the competition now, because there will be more than enough of that during the season. Now I switch off everything else during the practice and focus on myself only.
AS: Do you see Elena as a more experienced or an equal rival?
MS: I don't know. I try not to think of it - who came to the group, who left, who is warming up near me... I did follow Sasha Samarin - his masculine speed, which I tried to gain as well. I did learn a bit. Hence today I focus more on myself and don't really see the other skaters, but learn from the coach Maks Zavozin how to make my gliding better.
AS: Do you talk to Buyanova about the Olympic options?
MS: No, but it's obvious it's a season with an extra responsibility. Everyone is focuset and set and everyone is talented. But the previous season was equally important because it was my first senior season. The next season will be important for some other reason. There is no such `we are only working for the Olympics this season'. No. The next important steps are the GP events. It's a step where you either declare `Here I am! I can do it!' or you lose it and are thrown back. Then the Nationals, which, probably, will be the toughest competition of the season. And only then, may be, there will be something else...
AS: During the summer your instagram followers were in awe of the length of your legs.
MS: It's just a really good photo.
AS: Do you realize how attractive you are? As a woman?
MS: Of course, I grow up, 17 going on 18. But I don't upload the photos because `I'm looking for someone'. No, I still search for myself on the ice. I like posting on Instagram, my friend and I work on the photos so they would look nicer. There are so many bloggers online who have beautiful accounts, they inspire me. I try to create beautiful pages, but there is no hidden meaning.
AS: Do you often get love confessions?
MS: I think the skaters always do. Someone sees you on the TV and starts posting on your instagram and social networks. But the recent photos did not spring any additional attention. All is the same.
AS: Do you have a bf?
MS: No, I don't have time for that. The attention is nice, I like the compliments, but I have other goals. Am not ready to dump the skating and dwell into love.
We met up with the Russian nationals bornze medallist in a practice, which the RFSF president Aleksandr Kogan and a technical specialist Aleksandr Kuznetskov visited.
AS: What did the technical specialist advice, Maria?
MS: To work on the spins, add some steps to the sequence, but all and all they liked it and I don't need to change anything.
AS: Was it a surprise visit? You even made a mistake in the camel spin entry.
MS: My head was spinning and I didn't understand where was I after the medical check up. Spinning was tough.
AS: What are the programmes?
MS: The SP is a waltz from the `Swan Lake', the LP is the `Moonlight' by Debussy.
AS: Was the `Moonlight' your choice?
MS: No, the coaches - Peter Tchernyshev, Elena Buyanova and Irina Tagaeva chose it. I was very much against.
AS: Really?
MS: It was worrying - I couldn't find myself in that music. The first impression was: oh, a slow music again, the same character... I wanted something new, more active, fast. But we decided the Olympic season was not the best to take risks and take something that indeed suits me. The certainty the programme would work.
AS: It does work, but is it a bit too empty, with no accents like you had in the last year's Schnitke?
MS: Peter created a beautiful choreography to the `Moonlight'. The whole package with a gorgeous dress. Should I skate it clean in the competition it should be good. Later when I found myself in that programme rebelling was silly. I dwelled in the process and I liked it. I fell in love with the programme and I love skating it.
AS: Yet there are no tears and emotions in that programme?
MS: No. We decided to put the stress on the beauty of the executed elements. The season is going to be tough as it is, so we didn't complicate the choreography too much. Everyone will be focusing on the elements now.
AS: Previous season was your first senior and with all the flow of your Schnitke music programmes you were fighting for every element...
MS: It was a new character and it was hard to get into. The last year's LP was harder than the `Moonlight'. But I became one with Debussy's music, I think it suits me really well.
AS: Slow with the flowing lines...
MS: Yes. It's easy for me - that's who I am.
AS: What are the new elements?
MS: I added a tano in the jumps, the rest remained the same. The mediocre list of elements like everyone does. No 3A nor 4S.
AS: You're kidding
MS: Why? Unfortunately I will not do a 4S this season.
AS: Unfortunately?
MS: I tried it at the end of the season, think it was possible to make it work.
AS: Was it fully rotated?
MS: No. It was badly underotated. I only attempted in order to understand whether I can do it. The conclusion is nothing is impossible with the right amount of work.
AS: I.e. you could had learned the 4S for this season?
MS: For now I only tried it for myself. A couple of times. I didn't work on it till went numb. This season we decided no to integrate it. We preferred to polish the elements I already have and leave the quad for later.
AS: I wasn't even going to ask about the quads.
MS: Of course, it's not the time yet.
AS: What is so special about the Salchow?
MS: You have to catch the entry. There is nothing comlicated in the push, but the entry... But think this season no one will take a risk, because the clean programmes will be scored higher than those with a 3A and a fall. Though the Japanese female skaters do the 3A even in the show. Wakaba Higuchi, Yuna Shiraiwa - they fall, but rotate it. When you are sure you can skate the whole programme with those jumps - why not? Like Liza Tuktamysheva did - she could land the 3A and she could fall, but she had enough power to do the rest of the elements as well.
AS: Tuktamysheva's coach Alexey Mishin says she `lost' the 3A.
MS: Axel is such a jump - now it's here, now it's gone.
AS: Why?
MS: A mystery. But many male skaters struggle with the 3A. I can't even imagine what would it look like if I attempted. Well, I never did.
AS: How did you feel about the waltz from the `Swan Lake'?
MS: I loved it at instance! Peter put the music on and I didn't hesitate for a moment. The process was quite fast. I wanted to skate for a `Swan lake' for a while. Not necessarily the waltz, but the Swan lake.... but there is nothing about the swan in my programme. Nothing. It's just a waltz. I strike the poze, someone asks me for a dance, I turn...and bow at the end.
AS: A `Swan lake' with no swan...
MS: It will be allright.
AS: How was your trip to Japan?
MS: I love the country, the Japanese fans. I had to take an additional luggage since there were so many toys. One of the girls is making her own teddy bears and she asked what would be more convenient: to bring them or post them. The latter was better. I came back to Moscow and a package came a week later.
AS: Were the Japanese fans fainting?
MS: Because of me? No. However, when Nathan Chen was out the girls were screaming like crazy `Nathan!!! Marry me!!!!!!'. The emotions they had for me were calmer and it was so nice. The applaud, the banners - it's something that you can't stay indifferent to.
AS: The `Kalinka' programme you skated there - who came up with it?
MS: Peter. When we were thinking of the music for the LP he said `Let's do a Russian folk!'. But I thought the Russian folk in my interpretation would be way too heavy for everyone. We sat around and thought and decided it was too much. So we decided to make it an exhibition. Think it worked out quite nicely.
AS: Throughout the whole last season you were competing with Polina Tsurskaya, yet this summer you went together for a vacation.
MS: It was spontaneous. We've been friends for a while. We spent 10 days locked in together in the same room in the junior Olympic festival. It befriended us. I pushed Polina to come to the vacation with us. The month before leaving I realized I can't go alone - it will be so boring and sad. Polina was fast to agree, though there were some problems as she is underage and we were going with my mom. But we had a great time, didn't think of figure skating and gained positive energy for the whole season.
AS: How is it being friends when she is first and you are second, and then a year later you are so successful on the seniors and she is still a junior?
MS: When she first started competing the juniors I didn't know her. I didn't care who I was competing with. And then we became friends. Of course there are no friends on the ice - we are rivals there. When she was winning I was upset with myself. But I was happy for her - she is a hard worker and she deserved it. We don't mix the sports and life.
AS: Will she come back to the previous level?
MS: I can't say anything now, but Polina is so talented. I hope she'll make it.
AS: You are entering your 2nd senior season. Is it more pressing or you gained the experience?
MS: Experience. Last season taught me a lot and proved a lot. This season I was preparing calmer and was not pressed mentally so much. I had enough of that situation after the Russian nationals and the Euros when it was not clear whether I'd go to the Worlds or not. That limbo was terrible. I was so nervous. It was hard mentally to gather later. When I did come to Finland in the end I was stressing so badly about `the first senior worlds'. That moment I still remembered am nothing but a yesterday junior skater. In the end I couldn't cope completely, but later it was a relief and a lesson learned: I should be calmer. Since then I convince myself: if I can do it in the practice - I can do it in a competition. Even better.
Of course you can't turn off the brains, but when you think too much you put yourself in a wrong corner. There is no point doing it and that understanding is my gained experience.
AS: Back in Finland you admitted in the Russian nationals you were going to a combat.
MS: Right.
AS: Will you be different this year, or a `combat' was the right set of mind for the Nationals?
MS: It was the right set of mind that gave the result. In the SP I was nervous but I held it cool. In the LP I suddenly realized what kind of a fight it is. You see, I was so ready both mentally and physically. But I skated through my teeth because I couldn't concentrate. There are so many skaters and just 3 spots. What will be the next Nationals is too early to tell. I still have several competitions prior to that. At any rate - I'll accumulate the positive thoughts, because there should be no negativity in my head. Everything should be great, then I just have to go out there and do my best. We are trying to create a beautiful art, but without a strong skeleton it'll fall apart.
AS: Does Elena Buyanova has enough time between you and Elena Radionova?
MS: Of course. We are not skating at the same time - I practice after Lena. Elena Buyanova did everything right, she has enough time for us both.
AS: She doesnt' take a risk of putting 2 rivals on the same ice?
MS: That's not the reason we are not skating at the same time. What do you expect us to do? Kill each other? The coach needs time to switch from one skater to the other, from one programme ot the other. After all she is human and only has 2 eyes.
AS: What is more convenient for you in a practice - competing with Radionova or be on the different corners?
MS: We meet on the ice anyway and see what the other is doing. But we are not thinking of the competition now, because there will be more than enough of that during the season. Now I switch off everything else during the practice and focus on myself only.
AS: Do you see Elena as a more experienced or an equal rival?
MS: I don't know. I try not to think of it - who came to the group, who left, who is warming up near me... I did follow Sasha Samarin - his masculine speed, which I tried to gain as well. I did learn a bit. Hence today I focus more on myself and don't really see the other skaters, but learn from the coach Maks Zavozin how to make my gliding better.
AS: Do you talk to Buyanova about the Olympic options?
MS: No, but it's obvious it's a season with an extra responsibility. Everyone is focuset and set and everyone is talented. But the previous season was equally important because it was my first senior season. The next season will be important for some other reason. There is no such `we are only working for the Olympics this season'. No. The next important steps are the GP events. It's a step where you either declare `Here I am! I can do it!' or you lose it and are thrown back. Then the Nationals, which, probably, will be the toughest competition of the season. And only then, may be, there will be something else...
AS: During the summer your instagram followers were in awe of the length of your legs.
MS: It's just a really good photo.
AS: Do you realize how attractive you are? As a woman?
MS: Of course, I grow up, 17 going on 18. But I don't upload the photos because `I'm looking for someone'. No, I still search for myself on the ice. I like posting on Instagram, my friend and I work on the photos so they would look nicer. There are so many bloggers online who have beautiful accounts, they inspire me. I try to create beautiful pages, but there is no hidden meaning.
AS: Do you often get love confessions?
MS: I think the skaters always do. Someone sees you on the TV and starts posting on your instagram and social networks. But the recent photos did not spring any additional attention. All is the same.
AS: Do you have a bf?
MS: No, I don't have time for that. The attention is nice, I like the compliments, but I have other goals. Am not ready to dump the skating and dwell into love.
some of the questions.
